THE WAY (Term 1 Week 8 - 21 March 2022)
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Message from Dr Sally Towns
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HOPE - St Joseph's Primary School, Woodburn
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FOR ACTION
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Stage 6 Catholic Faith in Action Writing Days
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Reminder: Arts Matters Workshops Stage 3, 2022
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FOR INFORMATION
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Announcement
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Shared Future Program Update
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Staff Wellbeing and Family Matters
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English as Another Language or Dialect (EALD) Modules
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Stage 3 and 4 Extension Program (English and Mathematics) for High Potential Learners
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2022 NAIDOC Week School Competition Initiatives
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Teacher Accreditation Requirements
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NESA Elective PD
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HSC Rural and Remote Marking Program (RRMP)
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Improvements for NAPLAN 2023
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Consultation Process COVID-19 Vaccination Safety Policy
This week we welcomed Mrs Jenny Allen and Mr Peter McLoughlin, to the diocese in the roles of Acting Director of Catholic Schools and Acting Director of Regional Services, respectively. Both Jenny and Peter join the diocese after decades of collective experience in leading Catholic education through a variety of contexts. I know that they will be warmly welcomed by staff across the 45 schools and Catholic Schools Office.
Before I sat down to write this farewell message, I went back to my introductory message when I first started in the role of Director of Catholic Schools in late July 2019. In that first message to staff, I made reference to the observation that on my return to the diocese after twelve years of living and working in other states that there were some constants that had held true for Catholic education over the decades. The first being that our Catholic schools in the diocese are faith based communities of learning in which all members of the community are created in the image and likeness of God. I am very proud to state that this remains true in 2022 and that schools strive to live this out every day. Sadly, this was evidenced in the last few weeks following the floods where school communities rallied around and supported people from all parts of the local communities across the diocese in need.
Additionally, in that first message I also referenced Pope Francis in relation to the changes that Catholic education faces in an increasing secular and pluralistic society, coupled with changing parental expectations and technological developments; ‘We are not living in an era of change but a change of era’. The ways in which we were forced to live and work over the last two years as we navigated its way through the pandemic has been a spectacular example of how adaptive we can be while staying true to our Mission. I am in constant awe of all the ways that staff have kept students at the centre of all that you do. Thank you!
I am often asked what I will miss most about working in the Diocese of Lismore. The answer is an easy one – the people. Every day I am fortunate to work alongside people, whether they be in our schools and parishes, the Catholic Schools Office, Bishop Homeming, Directors of the Schools Company Board, or the Diocesan Office, who are deeply committed to the Educational Ministry of the diocese. I am deeply grateful for their work and ongoing support.
For me, leadership of Catholic education is about stewardship. I am often reminded of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, who wrote ‘we are but travellers here’. I know that in my role over the last few years I have stood on the shoulders of those that have gone before me in preparation for those that will come long after I have gone. I am privileged to have played my own small part in this wonderful educational endeavour.
I wish each and every one of you every blessing for the future. Thank you.
Our Lady of the Rosary School at Caloundra recently held a fundraiser to help support St Joseph's Primary School Woodburn, after the recent floods, where they raised $1200.00 to help go towards much needed equipment for the school.
Ironically the students wrote the word HOPE on the ground, and a thunderstorm came and flooded that area, so the fundraiser was moved to another part of the school. Please click the link below to watch a video put together by the Year 6 students from this wonderful gesture.
Stage 6 Catholic Faith in Action is the diocesan-developed RE course offered to students as an alternative option to Studies of Religion I and II. A writing workshop will take place in Week 9 of this term at McAuley College, Grafton in order to further refine and develop units of work for this course. Please note the change of venue. Schools are invited to send up to two participants to these days, either Leaders of Catechesis or current teachers of the course, who will participate in collaborative processes in order to strengthen the understanding and delivery of this course. For further details and registration, please see MyLearning and/or contact Joan Lancaster or Matt Brown.
Please use this link to submit an Expression of Interest for the Arts Matters Workshop at your school in Term 2 or Term 3. Expressions of Interests have been extended and close on Thursday 31 March 2022 (Term 1 Week 9). Please refer to THE WAY (TERM 1 WEEK 2) for more details.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE RESIGNATION
Joanne Horan has announced her resignation from the Catholic Schools Office (CSO) and will finish in her role on Friday, 25 March.
For over 16 years, Jo has been an integral part of Catholic education in the Diocese of Lismore. As the Executive Assistant to the Director of Catholic Schools, she has worked alongside and supported four Directors during her tenure. Within her role, Jo has played an essential role in assisting key groups across the organisation, such as the Executive Team, Education Council, Schools Governance Steering Committee and Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited Board.
We thank Jo for her contribution and commitment to Catholic education in the Diocese of Lismore. She will be greatly missed.
The Shared Future Program is out with its most recent update. You can find what's been happening this term in the attachment below.
For a quick summary of the Shared Future Program objectives for 2022 see our intranet page.
CSNSW has available 5 modules to support staff working with students who have a Language Background Other than English (LBOTE) or English as Another Language or Dialect (EALD) profile. Modules were developed by Helen West, EALD Consultant, who will be known to some people in the diocese. Modules are free and are not NESA accredited. More information will become available closer to Term Two.
In response to system and school data, the Catholic Schools Office is offering a virtual Extension Program for selected students in Stage 3 and Stage 4 Mathematics and Stage 3 English.The Extension Program is for identified High Potential and Gifted Learners, therefore not all schools will have students involved and some schools may have multiple students accessing the learning. Information in the links below including the Selection Criteria.
The aim of these initiatives is to provide our kids with a greater understanding on the importance of friendship and cultural diversity.
The competitions are designed to reflect Aboriginal ancestry and promote the growth of positive attitudes in all students towards Aboriginal people broadly based on this year’s national NAIDOC theme - Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up. The Colouring-in/Short-Story competitions are open to all primary school students and the Creative Writing/ Essay Writing competition will be open to all secondary students.
Please find the 2022 Koori Kids Competitions/Entry Forms attached.
Teachers impacted by the floods in NSW will be given an extension by NESA to complete Proficient Teacher or Maintenance of Accreditation requirements if required. Please email contactus@nesa.nsw.edu.au for further information.
If you are unable to renew your Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance due to the floods, contact the Office of the Children’s Guardian WWCC customer service team on (02) 8219 3777.
You must have a current WWCC clearance to work as a teacher in a NSW school or early childhood service.
Teachers are reminded that training mandated by legislation can be recorded as NESA Elective PD (adhering to legislative requirements is an approved activity type). This includes courses that address child protection, bullying and harassment legislation and anaphylaxis. Example evaluations are modelled in the attachment.
The HSC Rural and Remote Marking Program (RRMP) is a joint program run by the Department of Education (DoE), Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) and the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).
The program is designed to give rural and remote teachers the opportunity to participate in marking the Higher School Certificate. The RRMP is a valuable professional development activity, and allows teachers to gain knowledge, skills and understanding about the marking process.
Staff in the Diocese of Lismore who are accepted into this program or the general marking program and who meet the criteria will be financially supported.
Guidelines for financial support
Please find attached the 2022 Rural and Remote HSC Marking Program Booklet.
Applications are open and must be submitted by 5pm, Thursday, 31 March 2022.
Click here to apply for via the online form.
Attached is a copy of this week's press release from the Australian Education Ministers in regards to Improvements for NAPLAN from 2023 for your information.
The consultation process included:
- A memo to all diocesan staff with a link to the survey and frequently asked questions. (The survey closing date was extended due to the floods)
- The survey included two questions which allowed staff free form responses.
- Staff were provided with an email address (consultation@lism), to provide further responses.
- Information on the consultation process was included in The Way and The Leader.
- A site on the Intranet included the link to the survey and the FAQs.
- Three Q&A sessions were held over the last week via Zoom. The Q&A sessions were communicated to staff in The Way and The Leader. (The Q&A sessions were moved to accommodate the floods)
The survey was open to all staff with @lism email addresses. 449 staff completed the survey.
11 staff availed themselves of the opportunity to join the Q&A sessions. Staff who attended the Q&A sessions were provided with the survey results which can also be found here on the Intranet.
The DLCSL Board will be provided with all information gathered during the consultation process and staff will be informed of the Board’s final decision.